NEET Eligibility Criteria 2024 By NTA - Age Limit, Qualification Required, Number of Attempt

The National Testing Agency (NTA) released the NEET 2024 eligibility criteria for medical aspirants on the revised NEET 2024 information brochure at neet.ntaonline.in. NMC released a notice stating that candidates studying subjects (Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, along with English) even as additional subjects after passing class 12 from recognised boards will also be allowed to take the NEET 2024.

NEET eligibility criteria 2024 specifies the mandatory educational qualifications, age limits, nationality requirements, and other key factors that determine eligibility for NEET. Aspirants planning to appear for medical entrance tests should know every detail of the NTA NEET 2024 eligibility criteria. Aspirants must go through NEET eligibility criteria before filling out the application form for the same.

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It is to be noted that no aspirant is allowed to fill out the NEET application form 2024 if they fail to meet the prescribed legitimate criteria. NEET exam will be conducted for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, BSc nursing, and other medical courses. If you are an aspiring medical student looking to appear for NEET 2024, read the NEET 2024 eligibility criteria article below to know the details about the conditions of admission, codes, qualifying criteria, NEET 2024 age limit, and much more relevant information. Candidates can check the revised NEET eligibility criteria 2024 by NMC for more information.

NEET 2024 eligibility criteria

Aspirants who fulfil the below-mentioned eligibility criteria of NEET 2024 and complete the application process within the stipulated date will be eligible to appear for the undergraduate medical entrance test. Aspirants who wish to study medicine abroad but wish to come back to India to practice NEET are now mandatory for them also. The eligibility criteria for appearing in the NEET UG 2024 exam are:

• Minimum age: A candidate should be 17 years of age at the time of admission or by December 31, 2024 to be eligible for NEET 2024 exam.

• NEET exam maximum age limit: There is no upper age limit for the exam.

• Citizens: Indian citizens, Overseas Citizens of India (OCI), and foreign nationals are eligible to appear in the exam.

NEET eligibility criteria by NTA - Qualifying exam requirements

NEET eligibility criteria 2024 for NRI/Foreign students

Candidates who have completed their education from outside the country must fulfil the NEET eligibility criteria. The last examination which has to pass by NRI/Foreign students should be equivalent to Class 12 qualification in their respective country. Candidates should have studied Physics, Chemistry, and Biology and must have passed the theory and practical test in each of these subjects as well as English in the qualifying examination.

• Non-resident Indians (NRIs), Overseas Citizens of India (OCI), and Foreign Nationals are eligible for admission in Medical /Dental Colleges subject to rules and regulations framed by the respective State Governments, Institutions, and the Government of India, as the case may be.

• NRI and OCI Applicants/Candidates have to upload a certificate from the concerned Indian Diplomatic Mission in the country of their residence in support of their claim as an NRI/OCI Candidate, along with their online NEET UG 2024 application form.

• Similarly, a foreign applicant for NEET 2024 shall also upload Documentary Proof (e.g. relevant pages of a valid passport or a Certificate from the Competent Authority in the country of his/her nationality regarding his/her citizenship status) in support of his/her Nationality, along with online NEET application form.

Also Check- Document Required For NEET 2024 counselling

NEET eligibility 2024 - What is the upper age limit?

Earlier, there were lots of restrictions on the NEET age limit and subjects as well as the type of school but as per the revised NEET eligibility criteria 2024, all those restrictions are now removed. As per the latest update by the health ministry, there is no upper age limit for NEET exam 2024. The upper age limit in NEET 2024 eligibility criteria has been removed.

As per the official notification released by the NMC on March 9, 2022, the age limit for NEET eligibility criteria was removed. So, candidates above the age of 17 years can apply for the NEET examination. Earlier, the upper age limit of the NEET exam was 25 years for the general category and 30 years for reserved category candidates.

How much percentage is required in 12th for NEET?

Class 12th marks are required for NEET. To be eligible for NEET 2024, aspirants must have secured a minimum required pass percentage in 12th to appear for NEET. The conducting authority has set 50% for unreserved category, 40% for OBC/SC/ST and PWD categories in Physics, Chemistry and Biology together in NEET eligibility marks in 12th. The minimum pass percentage is set by NTA. A candidate must have attained the age of 17 as on December 31, 2024.

Also check:

• NEET Syllabus 2024
• NEET 2024 Exam Date
• NEET 2023 Question Paper
• NEET Previous Year Question Paper

Can PCM students give NEET?

Yes, as per the new National Medical Commision, NMC norm, aspirants who have a physics, chemistry, and mathematics or PCM stream can now take the NEET-UG 2024 exam to get admission to MBBS and BDS programmes.

NEET eligibility criteria 2024 for BSc Nursing admission

Aspirants can check the latest eligibility criteria for students who want to take nursing admission through NEET scores.

• Minimum age: Students should be 17 years as of December 31, 2024.

• Qualifying examination: Candidates should have passed Class 12 with physics, chemistry, biology, and English as compulsory subjects. Candidates studying Biology as an additional subject after passing class 12 are also eligible.

• Minimum aggregate marks: General category aspirants must have passed the qualifying examination with 45% marks, while for SC/ST/OBC the minimum marks should be 40%

• Reservation policy: 3% of the reservation will be provided to the Person with Disability (PwD) candidates.

Also, read:

• NEET 2024 Information bulletin PDF
• NEET Deleted syllabus
• NEET Chapter-wise weightage 2025

NEET eligibility criteria 2024 - Know the qualifying examination codes

The 12th pass percentage required for NEET is 50% marks for candidates belonging to the general category. 40% marks are required for reserved categories. While filling out the application form, aspirants have to select the NEET qualification codes for the qualifying examination. Aspirants should be aware of NEET qualification codes by going through the table below.

NEET qualifying examination codes 2024

Details of qualifying examination codes for NTA NEET 2024

• Code 01: Candidates who will be appearing for their Class 12 board exam in 2024 and waiting for their board’s result have to choose this code. However, till the time of admission, such candidates must have qualified their class 12 as per the specified criterion, failing which they will become ineligible.

• Code 02: Aspirants who are studying for the higher/senior secondary examination or Indian School Certificate Examination (ISCE) which is equivalent to the Class 12 examination and comes after 12 years of study have to choose this code. As per the National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT), the last two years of this study must comprise science subjects namely Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and Mathematics or any other elective subjects with English as a core subject. It should also be noted that the qualifying examination code for NEET 2024 for droppers will also be the same. For instance, if a candidate has passed the qualifying examination from CBSE/ICSE or any state board in the year 2020, but wishes to appear for NEET 2024, he/she can apply for the exam with Code 2.

• Code 03: Aspirants who have completed their Intermediate/Pre-degree Examination in Science of an Indian University/Board or other recognized body with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and also English as a compulsory subject have to choose this code. The course should have a practical test in science subjects. Candidates whose class 12 or its equivalent qualifying examination is completed from a state board must also choose this code.

• Code 04: Aspirants who have completed a Pre-professional/Pre-medical Examination after passing either the Higher Secondary Examination or the Pre-University or an equivalent examination with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology & English must choose this code while applying. The Pre-professional/Pre-medical examination shall include practical tests in these subjects and also English as a compulsory subject.

• Code 05: With Physics, Chemistry, and Biology/Biotechnology as mandatory subjects, candidates who are pursuing the three years’ degree course from a recognized University and have qualified the first year including practical tests in each of the aforementioned subjects have to choose this code. Candidates must note that the qualifying exam here must be a University Examination and candidates should have passed the earlier qualifying examination namely 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology with English as a core course.

• Code 06: With not less than two of the subjects Physics, Chemistry, Biology (Botany, Zoology)/Bio-technology, candidates who have qualified the BSc Examination from an Indian recognized University must choose this code during the filling process of application. Further, they must have passed the earlier qualifying examination (10+2) with English, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.

• Code 07: Aspirants who have qualified for any other examination in scope and standard (Last two years of 10+2 Study comprising of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology/Biotechnology; which shall include practical test in these subjects) is found to be equivalent to the Intermediate Science Examination of an Indian University/Board, have to choose this code. Aspirants who have completed the qualifying examination from a foreign country are also required to fill in this code.

NEET eligibility criteria 2024 - Minimum age limit

The main concern of every aspirant is the NEET exam age limit for appearing for the medical entrance test. Candidates must have completed 17 years of age either at the time of admission or else on or before December 31, 2024, as per the NEET 2024 eligibility criteria.

Category-wise age criteria for NEET 2024

What are the qualifying marks for NEET 2024?

• Candidates have to be qualified in Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English individually in the qualifying examination which is 10+2 or equivalent, as per NEET 2024 eligibility criteria.

• Candidates belonging to the Unreserved category must have scored a minimum required percentage of 50% marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology/Biotechnology in their Class 12 or HSC examination.

• Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribes or Other Backward Classes (OBC) candidates should have scored 40% of passing marks in Class 12 in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology/Biotechnology in aggregate in the qualifying examination.

• Medical aspirants with locomotor disability of lower limbs must have secured a minimum of 45% marks for General-PH and 40% marks for SC-PH/ST-PH/OBC-PH in aggregate in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology/Biotechnology.

NEET eligibility criteria - Minimum required percentage

The category-wise eligibility marks in 12th for NEET 2024 is described below.

NEET eligibility criteria 2024 – Number of attempts

With amendments in 2018 for NEET UG eligibility criteria, the restrictions on the number of attempts for NEET was removed. Therefore there is no restriction on the number of attempts for NEET 2024. So, as per the NEET 2024 eligibility criteria, candidates will be allowed to appear for the entrance exam as many times as they would like to, only if they are eligible.

NEET eligibility criteria 2024 - 15% All India Quota seats/Deemed Universities/Central Universities/ESIC and AFMC colleges

• Aspirants who qualify for NEET UG 2024 exam can apply for the 15% All India Quota seats, 100% of the seats in Deemed universities as well as Central Universities, ESIC, and AFMC as well. This counselling for NEET will be conducted at an All India level by MCI.

• J&K candidates are not eligible for 15% All India Quota seats unless they have filled a self-declaration form to be submitted along with the NEET application form 2024. The self-declaration for NEET 2024 application form denotes that the candidate wishes to participate in the counselling for 15% All India Quota seats and would forgo the home state counselling in return. As per the NEET eligibility criteria, such candidates will be eligible for the seats of Deemed Universities, ESIC, and AFMC colleges.

• The allotment for 85% seats of DU will be open to candidates who have completed Class 10 and 12 from Delhi while the Institutional Quota seats of AMU will be exclusively for AMU students only.

NEET eligibility criteria 2024 - 85% State Quota seats

• The 85% state quota seats mean seats in all government colleges of the states/union territories respectively. Counselling for such seats will be conducted by the respective state authorities. To apply for state quota seats, candidates must fulfill the NEET 2024 eligibility criteria laid down by each state or union territory authority and include domicile, conditions too

• Admission to private medical and dental colleges through NEET will also be subject to the policies of the State/ Union Territory.